Marissa held her breath. Please Trey be a changed man. Even if you did do it, I need you to lie to me.
Trey exhaled deeply and ran his fingers through his messy hair. He dropped his voice to a whisper, "I didn't do it."
"Really?"
"Yea, I couldn't stand to see you take the fall."
"O, Trey... I'm so... I don't know what to say. I just wish there was something I could do. You don't deserve to be stuck here."
"It's all right. Sandy has got things covered. Just make sure you speak to Ryan soon. Ok?"
"Sure." Marissa felt any last worries lift off her shoulders and her smile lit up the dank room.
"Time's up." The guard yelled getting Marissa's attention.
"I'll see you later Trey."
"Can't wait."
-------------------------------------
Kristen was shook awake. She looked out the car window and saw that they were pulling up into a long dirt road drive way. The sun was setting behind a grove of trees.
"I didn't realize I fell asleep."
"No, worries. We got here without your map expertise."
"Ha,ha Carter. Very funny. It's not my fault we made that wrong turn back there."
"Uh,huh. Keep telling yourself that." Carter grinned smugly. "By the way I saw a nice place to eat back in town. You want to have a fancy meal before we start our wine tasting tomorrow?"
"I think we should just get some rest. There is a lot of work to be done and I can't afford to-"
"That's ok. I understand. I guess we can just call it an evening."
They pulled up to a two story bed and breakfast cottage that was
reserved specially for the press staying over night. Kristen was
settling into her room and was going to take another nap. Before she
could there was a knock at the door.
"Come in! It's open!"
Carter walked in holding his bags.
"Carter?"
"Looks like they ran out of room. We are going to have to share a room."
"But there is only one bed."
"O, well if it makes you uncomfortable- I'll sleep on the floor then, no big deal."
"No, wait. That's ok. I mean, it's not a big deal."
"Great. I'm going to go use the shower."
"I'll just stay here."
Kristen drifted off like she had planned, this time she woke up to Carter standing over her, in nothing but a bath towel.
"Geeze! Carter you scared me."
"Sorry about that. Hey, I took advantage of all the free soap. You should too."
"No, that's ok. I'll just wait till morning."
"Suit yourself. Hopefully you'll have time." Carter walked over to the fruit basket that was left on the table. "Ah, now nice of them." He pulled out two bottles of wine from the basket. Carter gestured them towards Kristen.
"O, Carter I don't think we should."
"What? Two bottles between the two of us isn't going to do any harm."
"Ah, good point." Kristen sprung up from the bed and got some glasses.
------------------------------------------
"Hello? Ryan?" Marissa knocked on the pool house door and peaked her head in.
The short muscular blonde was standing by his bed, fiddling with his watch.
"O, hey." He turned around smiling, "I didn't see you there. What brings you by?"
"I wanted to talk to you about something, but it looks like you're getting ready to go somewhere."
"Yeah, didn't Summer call you?"
"No."
"O, well the band, All American Rejects, is playing at the Bait Shop tonight since they have a new cd coming out. We were going to hang out there and try to get things- O, I know why she didn't call you."
"Why wouldn't she?"
"It has nothing to do with you. She probably doesn't want Seth to know she's gonna be there."
"Well, they are probably going to bump into each other anyway."
"Yea, that's true. The place isn't that big. But I was really hoping you'd hang out with me and Seth... mainly me."
"Uh, sure thing. We're all friends right? Despite the Summer/Seth issue."
"Yea... friends. So what was it you wanted to tell me?"
At that moment looking into Ryan's eyes, Marissa couldn't bring herself to break his heart. He was clearly full of hope that they'd get back together and he seemed so excited about tonight.
"Actually, it wasn't very important cause I forgot... Let's just go."
"All right." Ryan led her out by the hand and when he wasn't looking
Marissa let her face fall and couldn't believe her lack of courage.
-------------------------------------------
Lance paused from doing some unfinished business, which involved a pornstar named Anal Alexia, who's contractual obligations weren't being fulfilled.
He stared into the mirror, Things are fine now, but I'm getting old. I might not be so tough later on. I might lose respect and people could turn on me. I never thought about the future before. All I've know is this... What else could life have to offer?
A pounding on his motel door brought him back to earth.
"Hang on a damn second!" Lance got up from his chair and swung the door open.
"Julie?"
"You- you never came by-"
"My god, you're shaking. Come in. What happened?"
"I was just waiting for you and Caleb came home-"
"I'm sorry I must have lost track of time. What did he do to you! Is that a bruise!"
The strong willed Julie that the whole OC knew disappeared. She broke down in tears and went limp in Lance's arms.
"I'll get him for this! That old bastard! I'll- Julie, I'll kill him. Say the word."
"Lance I said before, no! You can't. We'd never get away with it."
"Julie, I am being serious. Think about it. I can do it. I clean and easy hit. Then you and I can take whatever money we can and disappear into Vegas. Gamble what we can and start new lives."
"But- but what about my girls?"
"You're old husband Jimmy can take care of them."
"I'll never see them grow up though!"
Lance grabbed Julie by the shoulders and she let out a gasp.
"Think about it. Can you really live like this for the rest of you're life? Can you're girls? What do you think is a better life for them? I love you Julie. Let me make you happy and give you everything you deserve."
Julie stared back at Lance unblinking.
"Let's do it."
-------------------------------------------
A dark curly haired teen stood awkwardly by himself. He leaned over the balcony watching the band below set up.
"The perks of showing up early." Seth said to himself.
He made his way down the staircase and started towards the bar. Suddenly in his view was his Little Miss Vixen.
"Uh- hi Summer. And Zack."
"ARG! Leave me alone Cohen!" Summer pushed her way past him and along with Zack disappeared into the crowd, which was steadily increasing in size.
Shot down, Seth could do nothing but wait for his reinforcement; Ryan.
------------------------------------------
Ryan and Marissa arrived together and met up with Seth.
"Hey man sorry we're late. Have you ran into Summer yet?"
"Yea, but she wouldn't even say hi and she's with Zack. I wish she knew the truth about him."
"The truth?" Marissa asked confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Zack has been planning from the beginning to make me look bad at the comic book party. And now he's telling Summer he'll drop out of our partnership for her- He's ruining everything for me."
"Aw, Seth. I'll talk to her and make sure she hears you out." Marissa placed a comforting hand on Seth's shoulder.
"Really?"
"Of course. What are friends for. And if you're right about Zack, then there is no way I want her to be stuck with him."
"Wow thanks Marissa."
"You guys go ahead near the stage and I'll go look for her."
"I think I saw them go out back. Thank you sooooo much!" Seth literally went skipping off.
Marissa laughed, "I never saw someone go from so depressed to prozac happy that fast."
"Yeah, me either. Hey are you going to be ok? Want me to help you look?"
"No, I'm fine. Go enjoy the show."
"I'll see you later." Ryan bent over and gave Marissa a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Um-"
"I'm sorry! It was... out of habit I guess." Ryan slowly turned a soft pink shade.
"Don't worry about it." Marissa put on a fake smile and left.
-------------------------------------
Kristen didn't know how Carter talked her into going to a local bar, but it was too late for that. The quiet hallway leading back to their room was disturbed with a loud crash as one drunken shadow fell laughing, while the other tried to help her up.
Carter managed to drag an intoxicated Kristen onto their bed. A beeping noise erupted from her purse and she took a look at her cell phone.
Four messages? O shit, that's right I was suppose to call Sandy when I got here. How could I forget?
Kristen threw her purse down on the floor and curled up on the bed, hoping the room would stop spinning. She felt a weight get in the bed next to her. She felt too weak to bother complaining about it.
"You know something?" She could feel Carter's warm breath on the back of her neck.
"Hmmm?"
"I wanted to tell you in the car that when you sleep. You look so peaceful. So beautiful, so perfect."
"Carter-"
"I know you want me Kristen. From the very first day I met you, I couldn't stop thinking about you. What is so wrong about us wanting to be together?"
Carter wrapped her arms around her. Kristen tried to push him off.
"Nothing is wrong with feelings you can't help, but acting on them is a completely different thing! Let me go Carter! I love Sandy!"
"No, you only think you do." He spun her over and leaned in for a kiss.
------------------------------------------------
The tall petite Marissa pushed open the heavy door to the back alley of the Bait Shop. A few people were out there puffing away at their cigarettes. She decided to walk farther down the alley towards the docks. Perhaps Summer and Zack would get some fresh air over there.
Her sandals made a tap sound with each step. The cool ocean breeze felt nice though her hair.
"Got the time pretty lady?"
A bald man with tattoos and shredded jeans stepped out in front of her.
"No, but I think it's like ten."
He took a step forward.
"What's you're rush?"
"I'm looking for my friend if you don't mind."
"Matter of fact I do." The man pulled out a knife and grabbed Marissa before she could run.
"Now give me all the money you have."
Marissa now crying threw down her purse.
"Here, take the whole thing! Just please let me go!"
"Ay, keep your voice down."
Marissa looked back down the alley from where she came. There were still a few people there, but if she cried out, who knows what this man would do.
"Let me go. What more do you want?"
"We'll now that you ask..."
Marissa cried harder and suddenly a figure jumped out from behind a near by dumpster, tackling the man. The figure had pulled the man away from Marissa and cause him to drop the knife. Marissa turned around in time to see her rescuer pound the guy in the face and then get knocked over, this gave her attacker enough time to scurry away.
The young man slowly got up groaning. Marissa hurried over to help him and she gasped.
"It's you."